“The Great Battle of Hansan Festival 2011”: The Great Battle of Hansan (1592) is one of the four most famous sea battles in the history of Korea. Visitors to the festival, which celebrates the anniversary of the great event, will learn all about the battle while enjoying the beautiful natural scenery of Tongyeong in South Gyeongsang Province. This year, the festival will take place from Aug. 10 to

“The Three Musketeers”: The musical “The Three Musketeers,” for which the tickets were completely sold out in last year’s run, is back this year for only nine days. Based on Alexandre Dumas’ novel, the musical, set in 17th century France, tells stories about the adventures of D’Artagnan and the three musketeers ― Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Actors of the Korea premiere in 2009, including Yoo Jun-s

“Suspicious Paradise”: The dance show is inspired by the Demilitarized Zone, which looks like a paradise with untouched nature but is also a place deeply scarred by the Korean War. Organized by Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, it aims to offer a fresh experience to the younger generation who not know much about the war. It will run from Aug. 5 to 7 at Seoul Arts Center’s Towol Center in

Ashton Shepherd “Where Country Grows”MCAWith her 2008 debut, “Sounds So Good,” Ashton Shepherd offered a down-home contrast to contemporary country music. Like a Loretta Lynn for modern times, she flashed a feisty attitude and an unfiltered country twang that made Miranda Lambert sound uptown. The album drew critical praise, but little radio attention and disappointing sales.With her second album,

NEW YORK (AP) ― In 1964, an enterprising 18-year-old snapped pictures of the Beatles’ momentous first U.S. concert in Washington, D.C.On Wednesday, Christie’s auction house said it sold 50 silver gelatin prints that the photographer, Mike Mitchell, made from the negatives for $361,938. The images, plus photos from another Beatles concert, had been estimated to fetch a total of $100,000. This file

Led by conductor Chung, orchestra to perform Edinburgh Festival debutThe Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, led by music director and chief conductor Chung Myung-whun, will hold its second Europe tour concerts from Aug. 19 to Aug. 27, just one month after releasing a debut album under the prestigious label Deutsche Grammophon.The SPO said it will hold a special concert on Aug. 9 at the Seoul Arts Cente

The Korea Tourism Organization said it was helping 103 U.S. fans of Korean pop visit the country to see a concert by girl group Girls’ Generation, attend two broadcasters’ K-pop TV shows and visit major tourist spots this week.The KTO said the 103 fans from a K-pop fan community in Los Angeles asked the KTO’s branch in L.A. to help them attend a concert by Girls’ Generation, also known as SNSD.Nin

Lloyd “King of Hearts” Zone 4/Interscope RecordsAfter a lackluster response to 2008’s “Lessons In Love” and departure from the label that gave him his start, The Inc., things were looking less than promising for Lloyd and his smooth falsetto. But he regrouped and found a home at Polow da Don’s label Zone 4, a partnership with Interscope Records, and the move seems to be paying off with his new alb

Seoul Philharmonic OrchestraDebussy, RavelUniversal MusicAfter reaching a long-term contract with Deutsche Grammophon in April, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s debut album with DG is finally on the shelves.The SPO’s performances of Debussy’s “La Mer” (The Sea) and Ravel’s “Ma Mere L’oye” (Mother Goose) and “La Valse” under maestro Chung Myung-whun are featured in the album. Ravel’s programs wer

The Korean pop market is dominated by idol groups, including Girls’ Generation, 2NE1 and Wonder Girls. For new girl group A Pink, which debuted in April with the first album “Seven Springs of A Pink,” it will not be easy to survive in the competitive K-pop scene. However, it will differentiate itself from other girl groups by showing unique colors of the seven members, they said.“If we say other g

Acclaimed American R&B singer-songwriter Eric Benet said Korean audiences will be able to see him pull off one of the best performances at his upcoming concert in Seoul in September.Benet is to hold his third solo concert in Korea on Sept. 22 at Ax-Korea in Seoul. He concert, originally scheduled for April, was postponed after the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan.“What you can expect at my co

Yamaha Korea CEO targets Korean musicians with Austrian premium pianoBösendorfer, a premium piano brand from Austria, has been added to the list of other well-known piano brands such as Steinway and Bechstein for professional pianists in Korea, as Yamaha Music Korea, the brand’s exclusive distributor, launched it Thursday in Seoul.Bösendorfer was established in 1828 in Vienna, Austria and currentl